Riding through San Francisco without a driver courtesy of Waymo. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

No driver, no problem.

Instead of something out of the future, this Waymo vehicle is very much part of the present.

Using an app much like hailing a Lyft or Uber, it’s easy to get a Waymo. Well, that is assuming they operate where you are. Waymo is available in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Austin. Soon the vehicles will be in Miami and Washington, D.C.

A map in the vehicle shows where your vehicle is as well as others, including pedestrians. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

While they are a bit more expensive than the aforementioned ride share companies, there was something more pleasing about a Waymo. I could set the temperature to what I wanted. I could play whatever music I wanted. I didn’t feel like I was in someone else’s personal vehicle because I wasn’t.

OK, so safety is probably more important.

Waymo does not want anyone’s assistance. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

I felt safe. Never a doubt, nor a question, nor an ut-oh to be uttered. Traffic laws were adhered to—including speed limits, lane changes, stopping, signaling when appropriate. There were a couple yellow lights that we went through—but nothing worrisome.

I did find it kind of funny when I guy merging in from the right put out his hand like we all do as a way to ask to be let into the lane. I don’t think Ms. Waymo, that was my name for this electric Jag, is sophisticated enough or had enough cameras to know what any hand gesture means. But I could be wrong.

The ride was super smooth. No sudden stops or starts. The vehicle was clean. A map of where the vehicle is as well as the surroundings are on a screen in the front and back. Estimated arrival time in continuously update.

Waymo has been available to everyone in San Francisco on a 24/7 basis since June 2024. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

Waymo is owned by Alphabet, Google’s parent company. The company was founded in 2009. The first fully autonomous ride was in Phoenix in 2020.

It was funny how giddy I felt in it. I never thought in my lifetime I would be in a driverless vehicle. It was awesome. I had zero stress; which is not what I can say when someone is behind the wheel. I would love to own one. How great would that be to merely plug in where you want to go and the vehicle takes you there? Now that would be truly something to see in my lifetime—personal driverless vehicles. It’s good to dream.